Jalal (Jil) EL AHDAB

I am a partner in our Dispute Resolution Group in Paris, the head of our Arbitration Department in France and a member of our Dispute Resolution practice in the UAE, where I offer our clients longstanding and cross-border expertise in managing international disputes and arbitrations.

My practice-area is international business law, with a focus on international disputes and foreign investments, notably in Europe, Africa and the MENA region. Having acted as a counsel, arbitrator and expert in over 150 cases, I have in-depth experience in managing complex disputes including shareholders' rights, suits against States, class actions, breach of negotiations and bank guarantees. My sector experience is comprised of work for our high-profile clients in the aerospace, defence and aeronautic industries, as well as in the sectors of energy, commodities trade, telecoms, ports, airports, construction, life sciences, sports and more.

I am also well-versed in settlement strategies and optimization: as an advocate, I have mediation skills (CEDR-trained) enabling me to identify when there is room for an agreement, how to cope with the most sensitive disputes and reach settlement in the most effective, fair and reasonable manner.

In addition to being a regular speaker at international arbitration conferences, I have also authored numerous articles in professional and legal journals and act as managing editor of the International Journal of Arab Arbitration (available on Kluweronline.com). Furthermore, I have co-authored two books: 'Arbitration with the Arab Countries' (published by Kluwer in 2011), and a book on Arbitration Law and Practice in France, written jointly with Professor Daniel Mainguy of the University of Paris 1 – Sorbonne (published by LexisNexis in 2021).

I am a former UNCITRAL representative (2013/2018) and member of the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC (2015/2021). I am also vice-chair (Chair from 2017 to 2021) of the European Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and am the co-chair of the IBA Arab Regional Forum. At last, I am a member of the Advisory Board of VIAC (the Vienna International Arbitration Centre) and a member of the Board of the Association Française d'Arbitrage (AFA).

I am qualified to practice in Beirut (Lebanon), Paris (France) and New York (USA), and am equally fluent in Arabic, English and French.